Women in Science & Engineering (WiSE)

Greetings from the Women in Science & Engineering SIG!

WISE is here and ready to connect and network with our members. Through social media, webinars, workshops and community outreach, WISE is here to serve and support you. For decades Women have forged ahead in the areas of STEM, which has given NSBE Women in Science and Engineering Special Interest Group (WISE SIG) a platform to affect change by giving everyone a voice to be heard.

Our mission is to Enlighten, Engage, and Empower not only NSBE women in STEM but foster relationships and collaborate with communities and institutions outside of NSBE. We also want to continue to build and establish WISE as a foundational special interest group for both NSBE Collegiate and professional members.

This year we will focus on highlighting “The untold story of the underrepresented sector of the engineering world; Women in STEM”.

Meet the WISE Leadership Team

Hola! My name is Valerie Thomas and I’m honored and excited to serve as your WISE Director. As a true southern belle, I was born in raised in Atlanta, Ga. I’ve been a member of NSBE since 1998 and during that time I’ve served in chapter, regional and national leadership. I have a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering Technology and a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU). I currently work for Siemens as a Communications Manager for the Process Industries and Drives division.

Greetings! My name is Michelle Thompson. I am a postdoc fellow supporting the Department of Energy (DOE) in the Office of Energy Policy Systems Analysis (EPSA). I work on water-energy nexus projects, including the U.S.-Israel Integrated Energy and Desalination Design Challenge and the Water Resource Recovery Testbed Network with NSF, EPA, and WERF. I began my studies in marine biology from UCLA, but soon discovered my passion for environmental policy, which eventually led me to a Master in Public Administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) Environmental Science & Policy program. While interning in the climate change division at the United Nations I developed an interest in energy efficiency and water policy. My studies culminated in a D. Env (Doctor of Environment) in environmental science & engineering from UCLA. I decided to forego a traditional PhD program and pursue a policy-based professional doctoral program. My dissertation, “An integrated approach to scale up the market penetration of renewable energy technologies in developing countries and water scarce regions,” evaluates the integration of desalination technology with renewables in Asia and the Middle East. For my data points I designed an off-grid water purification system with the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) and National University of Singapore. Over the past 9 years I have collaborated on water-energy projects with scientists, government agencies, and stakeholders in Korea, China, Taiwan, Sicily, Singapore, Dubai, Fiji, Tahiti, Mexico, and Ghana.

Hello! My name is Ferra Pinnock. I am junior chemical engineering major at Yale University who hails from the heart of the dirty south (aka Atlanta, GA). Outside of the classroom, I serve on the executive board of my collegiate NSBE chapter, co-captain the Yale's women club basketball team, and conduct research on solar cells in a transformative materials and devices lab.

I am Miya Smith and I am from Atlanta, Ga and currently reside there. I currently work for McKesson Health Solutions as a Senior Business Analyst. Within this role, I work as a client delivery consultant. I have worked in the Healthcare sector for a number of years, primarily in roles on implementing software solutions. While at McKesson, in addition to my consulting role, I also serve on the Board of ASPIRE, the African American employee resource group and as a Regional Volunteer Coordinator.

I am very passionate about advocating for women and girls and diversity in STEM. Because of this, I volunteer my time with a number of organizations. I am currently a Board Member for Girls on the Run Atlanta and on the Region III Advisory Board for NSBE. I also serve as a Taskforce Lead on the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Bioscience Leadership Council. I also volunteer my time with the Atlanta Area Boy Scout Council’s Exploring Engineering program, Black Girls Code and Women in Technology.

I am a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Outside of volunteering, my interests include Yellow Jacket and Atlanta Falcons football, traveling, running and tennis.